Senator Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III is shown swearing in new members of a multi-sectoral group that has pledged support for his presidential bid during a recent two-day visit to Cebu. (CHERYL T. BALDICANTOS)

CEBU CITY – Presidential aspirant and Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III Friday said he wants to sit down with church officials to explain his support for the controversial Reproductive Health Bill, although he denied co-authoring Senate Bill No. 3122 pushing the measure.

During the launching and oath-taking of the Noy-Mar Volunteers in Cebu at the Sacred Heart Center, Aquino said he long wanted to have a dialogue with church officials, especially Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, whom he said was “misinformed” about his stand on the RH Bill.

“The cardinal has not been given the correct information. I just want him to hear my side of it,” he said.

However, the dialogue with the Cardinal has not been included in the two-day schedule of Aquino in Cebu. The senator said the Cardinal’s schedule is hectic and he could not find time for them to talk.

“Maybe we can talk in Manila or somewhere. Nagulo kasi ang schedule namin,” Aquino told the Manila Bulletin, adding that he has been reading the side of Cardinal Vidal in newspaper reports.

Vidal earlier said he will likely withdraw his support for Noynoy after learning that the latter is a supporter and part of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development, a group that supports the Reproductive Health and Population Development bills.

The bill encourages the promotion of artificial family planning methods, teaching of adolescent sexuality in schools, and management of post-abortion complications.

When asked if he would change his stand on the Bill now that the church is reportedly boycotting candidates who favor the controversial measure, Aquino said he will not change his position.

“If the church will boycott me, there’s nothing I can do. It is the same church that told me to follow my conscience. My conscience will not allow me to just close my eyes when I see children not being taken cared of especially by the government,” said Aquino.

Aquino clarified, though, that he did not co-author the bill and was in fact very vigilant in scrutinizing its provisions.

He said the misinformation that he co-authored the bill could have been based on his chairmanship of the Senate committee on local government where the RH Bill was referred.

Aquino also stressed that he did not sign the committee report because he still has questions regarding some provisions of the bill.